Fire extinguisher system with spring operated electric generator



May 2, 1967 D. A. YOUNG 3,316,973 FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM WITH SPRING OPERATED ELECTRIC GENERATOR Filed Aug. 30, 1965 INVENTOR. DAVID A. YOUNG ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,316,973 FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM WITH SPRING OPERATED ELECTRIC GENERATOR David A. Young, 22 Berwick Ave., Centerdale, RI. 02911 Filed Aug. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 483,532 Claims. (Cl. 169-19) This invention relates to a "fire extinguishing system which is completely self-contained and does not rely upon any outside actuating source but will operate when a fusible link is melted by heat or may be otherwise operated manually.

The system comprises generally an electrically operated valve for releasing water or a chemical with a self-contained source of electrical energy in circuit with the valve which source is spring operated, the spring being energized by some manual means. A trip mechanism is operated when a link which connects two parts fuses so as to permit the spring energy to actuate the electric source to in turn operate the valve and release the extinguishing water or chemical.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a system which will be completely independent of any outside source, such as 110 volts or other energy, supplied from a central system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be manually energized by means of a spring being wound and then released automatically upon the fusing of some link.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple device which may be inexpensively manufactured and simply installed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrically actuated release valve and the electric current generator and spring means for actuating the same connected in an electric circuit;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the spring means showing the same attached to the shaft of the electric generator;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the parts shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the parts in the position after the link is fused and the spring energy is released;

FIG. 5 is a fragmental detail showing the ratchet for holding one end of the spring against release; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form for pivoting the lever for manual release.

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates generally an electrically operated valve such as shown in greater detail in my Patent No. 3,196,953 dated July 27, 1965, which is actuated by an electrical means designated generally 11 to trip the lever 12 and in turn the lever 13 for opening the valve for passage of fluid through the same passing into pipe 14 and out of pipe 15.

An electric generator 20 when rotated puts out electrical energy sufiicient to actuate the means 11 in FIG. 1, the generator being connected by wires 21 and 22 to the valve 10.

The generator 20 is operated by a spring means 25 3,316,973 Patented May 2, 1967 which is coupled to the shaft 23 of the electric generator by means of a coupling 24 so as to rotate the same.

The spring means 25 comprises a plate 26 (see FIG. 2) which rotatably mounts a hub 27 which carries a casing 28 for housing a spiral spring 29 having one end attached to the casing. A ratchet wheel 30 is also affixed on a part of the hub 27 (see FIG. 5) and a pawl 31 carried by the plate 26 also carries a spring 32 to hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel 30 although permitting it to turn in one direction. A pin 33 extends from bracket 34 into a notch in plate 26 to hold it against rotation. The hub also has a boss which is rotatably mounted in the bracket 34 and is spaced therefrom by a washer 35. A manually operable key having a shaft 36 and a handle 37 serves for manual rotation of the hub and casing to rotate and energize the spiral spring 29. A shaft 40 having an enlarged portion 41 has a pin entering hub 27 to rotatably mount it in the hub. The inner end of the spiral spring is attached to this shaft 40. This shaft 40 carries fixedly with it a wheel 42 having a notch 43 therein (see FIG. 4), while shaft 40 is connected through the coupling 24 such as by set screws 44 to the electric generator shaft 23.

A lever 45 is pivoted as at 46 on the bracket 34 and is provided with a pawl 51 extending laterally therefrom into a position to enter the notch 43 and prevent the wheel 42 from moving under influence of the spiral spring 29 when in said notch. A second lever 47 is pivoted as at 48 on the bracket 34 which has a laterally projecting pin 49 engaged by spring 50 so as to swing the lever about its pivot and exert an upward movement upon the end of the lever 47. A fusible link 52 serves to connect the end of lever 47 and the end 53 of lever 45 so that the spring 50 exerts an upward movement on the lever 45 and swings the pawl 51 into the notch 43.

The spiral spring 29 when energized or in wound-up condition tends to move the wheel 42 counterclockwise as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the angle of the abutting surface 54 of the notch 43 and 55 of the pawl 51 is such that the wheel 42 will force the pawl 51 downwardly unless brought up into the notch by means of the spring 50. However, should there be a fusing of the connection 52 between the two parts of the link so as to separate them as shown in FIG. 4, then the spring urged wheel 42 will force the lever 45 downwardly, thus releasing the spring 29 so as to rotate the shaft 4' and electric generator shaft 23 to energize the motor and supply electric energy to the valve 10 to open the same and permit fluid to flow through the pipes 14 and 15 to extinguish the fire.

The bracket 34 is mounted upon a base 60 which also supports the bracket 61 to hold the generator 26) in place. This base 60 may be mounted on a vertical wall or other support, while the wires 21 and 22 may be carried to the valve which may be at any convenient location for controlling the fluid in the system.

In case it is desired to manually release this mechanism, a loop 65 (FIG. 6) having a pin 66 may be utilized as the pivot for the lever 47 and in this case the pin 66 will replace the pivot 48, thus permitting this pin to be pulled out to allow the lever 45 to drop and permit the spring to actuate the generator 20 as above described.

I claim:

1. In a fire extinguishing system, an electrically actuated release valve, an electric circuit for actuating said valve, a mechanical source of electrical energy, spring leans for storing energy for actuating said mechanical )urce, trip mechanism for releasing said stored energy, nd fusible means for actuating said trip mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a handle is provided or manually actuating said spring means to energy stor- 1g position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said source of elecrical energy is an electric generator having a shaft and aid spring means is a spiral spring coaxial with the axis f the shaft.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said trip mechanism :omprises a notch wheel and lever and said fusible means 101d said lever in the notch of said wheel until separated.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a spiral spring, a pawl and ratchet to hold one end of the spring and a trip mechanism to hold the other end of the spring in energy storing position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,389,817 11/1945 Rider 169-19 2,561,229 7/1951 Rider 169-19 3,196,953 7/1965 Young 169-19 M. HENSON WOOD, 1a., Primary Examiner. V. M. WIGMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM, AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED RELEASE VALVE, AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT FOR ACTUATING SAID VALVE, A MECHANICAL SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, SPRING MEANS FOR STORING ENERGY FOR ACTUATING SAID MECHANICAL SOURCE, TRIP MECHANISM FOR RELEASING SAID STORED ENERGY, AND FUSIBLE MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID TRIP MECHANISM. 